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Post by mandal on Mar 20, 2009 11:42:16 GMT 1
I swear i saw Sunny snigger .... ? Lol, I bet he did too! ;D I know if Toby is 'naughty' it makes my day, cos I know he's feeling a bit better! When he recovers I'll probably have a monster to deal with! Good job he's a mini!
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Post by nikki on Mar 20, 2009 14:08:04 GMT 1
Hi Lorraine, The track system is brilliant for these ponies! I'm a total convert. You wouldn't believe how much easier it is to control their weight and you can even see them gaining muscle as they keep moving foward as they eat. If their is no grass you can spread hay (soaked if need be) all the way around the track and watch them hoover it up as they go! Keeps the circulation going too.
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Post by VeronicaF on Mar 20, 2009 17:37:19 GMT 1
Sunny is such a lucky boy to have you as his owner Lorraine!!!!
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Post by Lorraine L on Mar 21, 2009 16:25:31 GMT 1
Thank you V. x Nikki, i hope that i can ask your advice about it when the time comes for Sunny needing turnout.
Good news today. The vet rang this morning to say that although the ACTH and other blood results aren't back yet, the insulin is. In September the test came back at 540. Normal range i believe is <38 and Sunny is 19.
I would like to say a huge thank you to Jackie Taylor who has coached us through the difficult period of trying to get to grips with the Insulin. It looks as if the ALA and Chromium is working a treat !
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Sam C
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Post by Sam C on Mar 21, 2009 21:56:08 GMT 1
I definately think exercise is one of the most important things we can do to prevent it, but as you'll know that becomes more and more difficult once they've had a serious attack. You worry constantly about getting the right balance between enough work and not too much stress on the feet. It's a nightmare! That insulin result is fantastic and just confirms that everything you're doing is really working. Fingers crossed for a normal ACTH - cushings is no death sentence but it would be one less thing to worry about, or one more possible cause checked off the list! Lets hope you can get him moving as much as possible now you can be sure there is no current underlying IR causing more inflammation. And just to show how well Sunny is doing despite the recent xrays, here's a pic of my mares foot a few days before she was PTS. I'm totally ashamed of it but hope it shows that you're actually doing ok.
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Post by nikki on Mar 22, 2009 8:48:59 GMT 1
Lorraine - That is fantastic news!! Got everything crossed that the other results bring good news too. xx Sam - So sorry to hear that you lost your mare. xx
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gillmcg
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Olympic Poster
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Post by gillmcg on Mar 22, 2009 9:59:46 GMT 1
Sam - just want to say how thoughtful of you it was to post that pic of your mare; must have been such a difficult time for you and sounds like it still is... Thank you.
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Post by mandal on Mar 22, 2009 11:07:23 GMT 1
Sam - just want to say how thoughtful of you it was to post that pic of your mare; must have been such a difficult time for you and sounds like it still is... Thank you. I agree. Also add brave and selfless to that Sam.
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Post by Lorraine L on Mar 22, 2009 12:37:37 GMT 1
Hi Sam I totally agree with Mandal and Gill, thank you for posting the photo. Would you mind telling us what went on in the months before you were faced with losing her ? If you would rather not, i completely understand but we can all learn so much from real experiences.
I should have some more results back tomorrow. Sunny is happy with his little wander up the lane and back each afternoon. I have been watching his normal stance and there seems to be something in what was said about the tendon maybe having problems. It dosen't matter what or how high i hang his hay net, even if the pile is put on the floor, he favours the right foot forward. I wouldn't normally have paid much attention to it, but the right leg seems more comfortable in front of the other. Therefore i would guess that the tendon is pulling when weight is put on it ?! I will get a little video this afternoon of him walking and you will see what i mean everytime he stops.
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Sam C
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Post by Sam C on Mar 22, 2009 21:42:16 GMT 1
Thankyou Gill, mandal & Lorraine. It's a very, VERY long story! As I said, we battled for five years and I've lost count of the number of serious attacks she had, not to mention the little setbacks inbetween. She spent most of it on box rest and I went through five vets, two farriers, a UKNHCP trimmer and an EP. I even had Derek Knottenbelt emailing me advice. I tried everything just to give her even half an hour out, muzzled on the barest grass. I watched her trying to suck up strands of soaked hay through the tiny hole in her muzzle, and I remember being very close to calling it a day there and then. And I thought the same after she collapsed, having just had her heartbar shoes fitted for the last time, which had her crippled every five weeks for two years (on vet advice). Fortunately I found somewhere with completely grass-free turnout where she wouldn't have to wear a muzzle, could be out 24/7 if she wanted, and didn't have to stand watching others eating lush grass. That's when I took in her laminitic companions one by one to create a mini herd. Of course, when you totally eliminate grass from the equation for a long period of time, that's when you realise how important the right hay is! I had everything analyzed and bought in seperate minerals to balance the diet to the nearest miligram. She didn't go anywhere without her hoof boots on and had different inserts depending on what seemed to be hurting most. I made eggbar shaped pads out of rubber matting for sole relief which worked really well, and full soft pads out of those Limpet saddle pads for when the pain was coming from the wall. I should also mention at this point that Flirt also had an auto-immune disease, pemphigus of the coronary bands, which affects hoof growth and quality, and in some cases affects the muscles and the lining of some of the internal organs. A physio described her muscles as being 'like cheese strings', and she was very weak on the hind end (constantly throwing weight onto already damaged front feet), so she had that to contend with too. By this point it had been clear for a long time she'd never be ridden again, but to say I would have been happy with a paddock sound horse would be an understatement! In the year leading up to last April, I thought I'd finally found a way to manage her. I moved yards to get a better grass-free paddock than I'd had, had a reliable source of safe hay and a cocktail of various supplements and drugs (almost everything on Jackie's product list plus metformin and pergolide!). Her feet weren't great and the last xrays we did showed why - 18 degrees rotation and 17mm sinking in front, 10 degress and 15mm behind, not new damage but what we had been left with after all that time despite months of box rest. But with boots and half a bute she was comfortable to spend a few hours out each day without coming in sore. Then at christmas she just crashed again for no reason. Insulin was out of control despite the diet and drugs, and even the glucose was at the upper limit. My vet had no more answers and I'd exhausted every choice of hoofcare professional. Andy Durham at Liphook, who had advised on medication, couldn't come up with anything, and Derek K told me straight that there was nothing more to be done. I let things go on for a few more weeks hoping she would improve, but knowing even if she did, there was nowhere to go from there. Instead she got steadily worse and I finally made the decision while she was just comfy enough, on four bute, to have her last couple of hours out on some lush grass in the sun. She was two weeks off her 14th birthday. I know in my mind that I tried absolutely every option, and I don't have any regrets about my decision, but it still hurts. And I do wish I'd known more at the start. Maybe things would still have gotten out of control, I'll never know, I just hope that someone else might be able to learn from my mistakes and that not all cases end up this way. Here's a pic of Flirt, just to put a face to a name. PS. Sorry for the long post!
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Post by Lorraine L on Mar 22, 2009 21:52:58 GMT 1
Sam, i don't know what to say. What a stunning looking mare. I am so sorry that despite all that amazing effort, things did not work out. I truly believe in fate and of course Flirt was given to you because if she hadn't been in your care, her welfare might have been so different. Pain management and day to day care of these precious creatures are paramount as they are so reliant on us. You should be proud of what you did for her Sam and i hope that with all that knowledge you have, you choose to use it for other horses and ponies in a similiar prediciment. Thank you for sharing what must be a very difficult time in your life with us. Take care xx
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Post by nikki on Mar 23, 2009 8:41:31 GMT 1
Thank you Sam for sharing your story. You were obviously totally dedicated to your girl and tried everything and more to try and make her comfortable. I'm so sorry that you lost her despite all your love, care and attention. xx
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Post by mandal on Mar 23, 2009 11:02:34 GMT 1
I just hope that someone else might be able to learn from my mistakes and that not all cases end up this way. Sam... From your story I don't see any mistakes!!! It sounds like you did all you could and there are always sadly going to be horses who can't be healed or made comfortable especially when metabolic issues are involved. I do agree that leaning all you can is the way to go as it opens up more options for you. Thankyou for sharing your story and hugs.
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Post by kim22 on Mar 24, 2009 0:43:36 GMT 1
What a rollercoaster of emotions!!! Thankyou so much for sharing this Lorraine i'm sure it will help all of us to manage our horses/ponies whether they have problems or not we've learnt alot from this thread. I have cried, smiles and cried more reading this!! Sam i'm so sorry for your loss!! Thankyou again, you are in my thoughts and will keep checking to see how he's doing : ) Hugs to you all!!
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Post by kim22 on Mar 24, 2009 1:10:08 GMT 1
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